Brain cancer survivor Ty Whisler inspired the Stanford men’s basketball players to a 35-point victory when Whisler got to serve as honorary team captain before a recent game.

“I’ve fought for the last year. Now you need to fight in your season!” Whisler told the team in a pregame pep talk, SF Gate reported. The team went on the beat their rivals by 35 points, which was their largest margin over another Pacific-12 Conference team in 16 years.

Eleven-year-old Whisler was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer about 18 months ago after being kicked in the head during a soccer game and developing concussion-like symptoms, SF Gate reported. A scan of his brain showed a tumor wrapped around his brain stem.

Whisler had surgery on the tumor immediately, but doctors couldn’t get it all because of its position, SF Gate reported. He has since undergone radiation and chemotherapy, missing all of fourth grade.

While he was in the hospital in January 2017, members of the Stanford team visited Whisler and developed a relationship that led to playing catch and miniature golfing with them after his release, and when scans showed what was left of the tumor had shrunk since October, Whisler was excited to share it with his new “family,” the Stanford players.

“These players and coaches took him in as if he was their own child or their own brother,” mother Jill Whisler said, SF Gate reported. They also reached out to his brother and sister to help them cope with their brother’s disease.

“As much as we make him happy, he makes us even happier,” player Doran Pickens said, SF Gate reported. The team has dubbed Ty its good-luck charm.

“He’s in our hearts, every game, every practice, every time we take the court he’s in our thoughts,” Pickens said, KTVU reported.